Train operator honored for heroism

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Earlier in April, a man jumped onto the metro rail tracks to save an older person who fell.

Now the other hero in the story -- the train operator -- got his due.

It was an act of brotherly love, as Steven Love jumped onto the subway tracks to save a man who collapsed unconscious in front of an oncoming train.

If the train didn't stop, they likely both would be killed.

But the train operator, Jose Ramirez saw something was wrong.

"I was scared. Sweating," Ramirez says.

And he too took action.

"When I hit the mile marker that lets me know to apply the brakes, I looked down and saw a guy waving his hand. I was like, what's going on? And I applied the emergency brakes," he says.

With the speed he was traveling, Jose says it took about four seconds and 30 feet to come to complete stop.

Mr. Love rightfully earned community praise for his action. And now, Jose Ramirez is formally recognized as well.

The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority gave him a special recognition at its 27th Annual Awards Luncheon. Train operators like Jose prefer to remain unsung heroes, by doing their job every day without any incidents. And he's still humble.

"It feels good but I just believe the real heroes are the ones that jumped in the track to save this gentleman," Ramirez says.

But his boss wants to make sure everyone knows he saved a life.

"He was able to go into emergency braking, stop the train, and save a life. His quick thinking made all the difference," says Kim Minke, NFTA Executive Director.

Quick thinking that he calls "just doing his job."

"Just got to be paying attention. That's it," he says.

Also at the luncheon the NFTA honored 19 employees who have been operating trains up to 30 years without an incident.